Western New Year's Day in Serbia

Western New Year's Day is celebrated in Serbia on January 1st, following the Gregorian calendar, which is commonly used worldwide for civil purposes. It is a public holiday across the country.

History and Traditions:

Serbia, like many other countries, adopted the Gregorian calendar; however, due to the presence of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Julian calendar is also observed for religious holidays. This means that Serbs actually celebrate two New Years: January 1st (Gregorian or Western New Year) and January 14th (Julian or Serbian Orthodox New Year). The Western New Year's celebration was assimilated into Serbian culture as globalization increased and aligning with international practices became more relevant.

Traditionally, Serbs celebrate with family gatherings, festive meals, and fireworks at midnight. A common tradition involves a lavish dinner on New Year's Eve with dishes like roast pork or stuffed cabbage (sarma), along with various salads and desserts. It's also customary to decorate homes and trees similar to Christmas traditions in other Western countries.

What People Do:

On New Year's Day itself, people often relax after the previous night's festivities. It's common for friends and families to visit each other to exchange good wishes for the year ahead. In urban areas like Belgrade, outdoor concerts and public celebrations are standard fare on both New Year's Eve and Day. Many people also use this day to make resolutions for the coming year.

Despite being a holiday period typically associated with rest, shops may be open as it is also seen as an opportunity for winter sales. The first few days of January are often spent enjoying leisure activities such as skiing in mountainous regions of Serbia or simply taking a break from work before regular schedules resume.